On Friday February 13, people will have the opportunity to participate in a large-scale science project. You don’t need fancy equipment, quantitative prowess or background. Just look outside the window and count birds for ten minutes. That’s right, you heard me. The Great Backyard Bird Count will be taking place from the 13th-16th. The goal is to engage people in the scientific process and enable researchers to acquire data about bird populations that would be impossible to get with isolated research teams. Who cares about birds? Well, if you’ve ever taken the time to bird-watch you’d know that birds are beautiful. But that aside, understanding bird populations and changes in bird communities gives researchers information about the ecological health about the surrounding environment and lends critical insights into needs for conservation efforts, how diseases (like West Nile Virus) are taking hold in one place versus another, and the pattern of bird populations studies over years can help scientists understand more global changes in the environment that could be worrisome (or encouraging). Learn more and participate at the website for the Backyard Bird Count and take a few minutes to become a scientist yourself.
February 5, 2009
Demystifying Sex
I am hoping that most of you caught the January 22 NYT article on the science of sex, but if you didn’t, you can find it here. I love the idea of people bringing themselves to orgasm while hanging upside down in an MRI machine in order to better understand which parts of the brain light up during sexual response. Anything for science, right? It did get me thinking about the quest for a female version of Viagra, it seems elusive based on what I know of current research (which is extremely limited), but is that the product of limited efforts on the part of scientific community? Is it that the product of the old observation that women’s sexuality is often portrayed as a subject of ownership by someone else rather than a source of power and pleasure for the woman herself? I’m not sure, but I loved reading about how sexuality studies are undertaken, and what they’re finding. A good warm-up for next week’s event…I’m sure Dr. Woodley will be able to shed some light on all this.
January 24, 2009
Night Lab: The Science of Sex and Attraction
Night Lab: The Science of Sex and Attraction
Before you hit the usual moves this Valentine’s Day, stimulate your brain. Come down to Schubas for the second installation of Night Lab, Chicago’s science series for adults, where we’ll be hearing about the science of sex and attraction. Duquesne University biologist Dr. Sarah Woodley will be discussing her research on pheromones, which are chemical signals that are processed by the nervous system and influence reproductive behavior. We’ll hear about the biology of pheromones, learn how pheromones are recognized by the body and processed by the nervous system, and find out whether or not pheromones can influence our attraction to one person versus another.
Dr. Woodley describes her research this way: I study sex differences in the brain and behavior. I am particularly interested in chemical communication and the role of pheromones, odors that are transferred between members of the same species and that influence reproductive behavior and physiology. I study how pheromones are processed by the nervous system, how sex steroid hormones modulate olfactory behavior and neural processing, as well as sex differences in these processes.
I study many different animal models, each appropriate to the question being asked. I study mammals (mice, ferrets) to study the role of the main versus the vomeronasal olfactory system in processing pheromones found in urine and scent glands. I study terrestrial salamanders to examine the hormonal modulation of the processing of courtship pheromones that increase female receptivity.
One lucky trivia winner will receive a gift from Early to Bed (www.early2bed.com). Scientific valentines will be on hand to exchange, and Dr. Woodley will answer your questions about the molecular mysteries of love and sex.
Schubas (3159 N. Southport)
February 15, 2009
7-9 PM
21+
Free.
Red Line to Belmont
Join the mailing list: night.lab.chicago@gmail.com
January 10, 2009
Hooray!
The other day, I was watching a political show on TV, and the roundtable was forecasting the Obama Presidency. I was interested, but never more than when they showed a clip of Obama saying that he was going to lead a science-based administration, and his administration would be based on facts. Woot! Keep reading →
November 4, 2008
Looking for Answers?
My choice of presidential candidate has been unambiguous for several months, but it was still very fascinating to learn a few months ago that presidential candidates had answered 14 questions on science posed by the Science Debate 2008 team. I was so super-interested in the whole thing because I’ve been wondering exactly how we’re planning on making a turnaround in the science world, and out came the September 25 issue of Nature, featuring McCain and Obama on the cover, with questions posed in the issue. There was only one problem: Most people don’t get Nature. Scientists get Nature.
October 30, 2008
Political Science
In what is one of the most engrossing U.S. political elections in recent memory, science is taking a more prominent role than ever. Where do the candidates stand on science and science policy? Come find out this Sunday, November 2nd when we discuss the scientific policies of presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. IIT political Scientist Dr. Matthew Shapiro and University of Chicago ecology and evolutionary biologist Dr. Geoff Morris will be on hand to shed some light on the candidates’ current and projected science policy, talk about what it means for the future of science in the United States and abroad, and why science needs to be on your mind as you vote.
Hopleaf’s fabulous menu will be available, as well as their wide array of Belgian beers.
Hopleaf Bar (5148 N. Clark St., Chicago)
November 2, 7:00 PM
21+
